Jalon Daniels’ first NFL start had everything you would expect from a rookie quarterback. There were mistakes, missed opportunities, and two costly turnovers, but there were also enough flashes to understand why the Buccaneers were comfortable putting the offense in his hands. Daniels finished Tampa Bay’s 17 to 14 loss to Green Bay completing 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Those numbers do not jump off the page, but his impact went beyond what he produced through the air. Daniels added 55 rushing yards on eight carries, averaging 6.9 yards per attempt, and immediately gave the Bucs another dimension offensively.
That was where Daniels looked most dangerous. When Green Bay created pressure or coverage held
up downfield, he did not have to force the football into a bad window. He could escape, get outside the pocket, and turn a broken play into positive yardage. His 21-yard scramble was Tampa Bay’s longest run of the game, and his 55 rushing yards set a franchise record for a rookie quarterback. The turnovers were the biggest issue. Daniels threw both interceptions in the first half, with the second giving Green Bay the ball near midfield with 34 seconds remaining. The Packers turned that mistake into a 58-yard field goal before halftime. For an offense that scored only 14 points, giving away a possession and eventually three points mattered.
What was encouraging was that Daniels did not allow those mistakes to define the rest of his afternoon. He played much cleaner football after halftime and helped Tampa Bay put together its best drive of the game in the fourth quarter. The Bucs went 84 yards on 12 plays before Daniels found Kenny Gainwell for a 10-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to three. Daniels still has to become more aggressive as a passer. His 148 yards came on only 5.5 yards per attempt, and Tampa Bay struggled to consistently create explosive plays through the air. Some of that falls on the offensive structure, but Daniels will eventually have to prove he can punish defenses that start playing closer to the line of scrimmage to contain his legs
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Jalon Daniels has ups and downs in NFL debut
